Aguilas Sets Up Showdown

Aguilas scored two runs early and righthander Derek Lee made just one mistake, allowing a solo home run to Luis Ugueto, though this wasn’t as easy as the club’s 13-6 victory over Mexico on Friday.

But the Dominican League champions have arguably the best bullpen in the tournament, and after Lee left in the fifth, Francisco Cruceta tossed two scoreless innings. Then it was onto the back end of the pen, as Joel Peralta, Randy Choate and Denny Batista shut Aragua down before giving way to Arnie Munoz to close it down in the ninth.

With the win, Aguilas sets up the game everyone’s been waiting for–a showdown with Licey, their biggest rivals during the winter league season.

"It’s going to be heated, it’s going to be intense," Licey catcher Matt Tupman said. "But this is the Caribbean Series and this is the way it should be. We wouldn’t want it any other way."